Tinsley played college football for the Clemson Tigers program.

[2] Tinsley's college career was interrupted by World War II, as he was drafted into the Army.

After returning to Clemson in 1944, Tinsley found out that his roommate and Tigers teammate Claude Rothell was killed during the Normandy landings.

[3] After college, Tinsley played in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers during their 1945 season.

[4] Although he was a running back at Clemson, the Steelers primarily used Tinsley as punter.